Keeping Up With Your Mental Health Amidst Pandemic
“It’s 2018, you’re counting the blipping lights of the no. of metro stations you have passed already, while carefully calculating when you would be able to reach your destination. It’s a newly opened cafe that you have planned to explore with your friends. You push through the crowd of Rajeev Chowk Metro Station while recalling the cafe’s menu that you had already checked out online. You think of some exotic-sounding drink and smile to yourself. Amidst all the unknown faces and announcements, you hear your gang calling out your name with a zest. You exit the metro premises with autowala bhaiyas hounding at you, yet you make your own way around the subjectively confusing blocks of CP. You are warmly welcomed to a table of 6 which you are definitely going to abandon after your server leaves. While your friends debate about the order, you slyly slip in your cliche order of cold coffee (wasn’t this obvious, anyway?). Being a proud owner of the latest model of iPhone, the duty to click everyone’s picture falls on your prepared shoulders. You have a fun time and as soon as everyone disperses, you get spammed with request (not really) messages from everyone to share the pictures ASAP”
The above incident is no fairytale, it’s something we have all cherished deeply. While nobody anticipated that most of us would be mostly confined to our homes for over a year- it is very crucial to keep our zeal and hopes high for the coming future. Of course, this feat cannot be achieved without giving utmost priority to our mental health. To get through, the most common suggestions you might have heard would be around working out, meditating or reading. While these do work but here are some more little changes that could bring significant results to how you feel on a daily basis.
- Go through your old photographs right from your birth. Recall the good memories, call up the people you see in those pictures. It’s definitely going to make you a little better by looking forward to collecting more pleasant memories.
- Mend up old or broken ties. As we keep getting busier in our lives, we unintentionally miss out on talking to a lot of old friends. This is your best chance to catch up with them (virtually, of course). you can also call up those you parted ways with (except your exes for most cases). If you can fix those bonds or at least get better clarity about the situation, then what’s the harm?
- Compliment one person every day to make their day. Can be literally anyone! You will be overwhelmed by their response as well. 10/10 works
- Follow a routine. As cliche, as it sounds but setting a routine, is an absolute must to ensure that you're not missing out on basic tasks like taking 3 square meals and sleeping on time.
- Take time off-screen. With wfh scenes and our friends/family away from us, it's natural for us to spend most of our time in front of screens (could be for binge-watching too). However, one should try to cut down on their screen times as much as possible.
- Accept your anxiety/how you feel. Don't label your anxieties or restlessness as 'overthinking'. You can solve a problem only after you accept it. Confide with your buddies, take professional help- make yourself heard.
- Light an incense stick or reload your diffuser with your favourite oil/scent. The aroma would calm you down.
- Keep water in brass urli. This is a traditional method to keep negative energies away.
- IF you are way too troubled, seek professional help.
- Lastly, be thankful to be inside a cosy house- surrounded by your loved ones.
Stay Home|Stay Safe
